Shooting suspect awaits charges

A 52-year-old Subiaco man is in the Logan County Detention Center in Paris awaiting felony charges in connection with a shooting last Friday, according to County Sheriff Steve Smith.

It appears the victim, who is in Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, will recover, Smith said.

The suspected shooter is Donald Burks. The victim is his son, Brennan Burks, 24.

Brennan Burks was shot with a rifle in the left side of his chest sometime near 12:16 p.m. on Friday, May 3, Smith said. Deputies responding to a 911 call found Donald Burks sitting on an old couch in a field, eating a bowl of chili, Smith said. The rifle was propped up against a couch, Smith added. He was taken into custody without incident and jailed. Smith said an arrest warrant for Donald Burks is being prepared by the 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office and Donald Burks will likely be charged with first degree battery, a Class B felony. Smith also said Donald Burks will go before a judge sometime this week for a bond hearing.

"He’s been very cooperative with our investigation," Smith said. Smith declined to elaborate.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Brennan Burks with a single gunshot wound to the chest, Smith said.

"I was told he didn’t look good," Smith said.

Brennan Burks was transported to Mercy Hospital in Paris by ambulance, where he was stabilized in the emergency room before being transported by helicopter to Fort Smith, Smith said.